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Florida governor declares Zika emergency
Gov. Rick Scott declared a health emergency in four counties Wednesday after at least nine cases of the mosquito-borne Zika illness were detected in Florida.
Health officials believe all of the cases are from people who contracted the disease while traveling to affected countries."We have to ensure Florida is prepared and stays ahead of the spread of the Zika virus in our state," Scott said in a statement. "We know that we must be prepared for the worst even as we hope for the best."Scott signed the order to cover Miami-Dade, Lee, Hillsborough and Santa Rosa counties. That's where all of the affected cases were detected.The Zika virus is linked to brain deformities in babies and is causing concern among public health officials worldwide.
The illness is primarily spread through mosquito bites, but investigators have been exploring the possibility it could be sexually transmitted.
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And the declared health emergency will do just what other than get him press coverage ???
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The order allows the state's agriculture department to use mosquito spray more in those areas. It also directs the Florida Department of Health to make its own decisions about what's needed from the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mr. Scott’s directive gives the Health Department additional power in coordinating a response to Zika and directs the state’s environmental unit to cooperate with the Agricultural Department in coming with a mosquito control plan.
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tennyson wrote:
And the declared health emergency will do just what other than get him press coverage ???
And it makes people more aware.
Wear long sleeves, long pants, use insect repellent........
This is a true emergency for women who are thinking about or are going to have a baby.
Last edited by Common Sense (2/04/2016 2:42 pm)
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And yet there is NOT ONE known case of ZIKA from mosquitoes in Florida.
The real containment appears to be infusion of a mosquito type that neuters the mosquito population.
I get the notion of precautions and awareness (including spraying which a lot of areas already do) but to declare this a health emergency seems to be totally premature.
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tennyson wrote:
And yet there is NOT ONE known case of ZIKA from mosquitoes in Florida.
The real containment appears to be infusion of a mosquito type that neuters the mosquito population.
I get the notion of precautions and awareness (including spraying which a lot of areas already do) but to declare this a health emergency seems to be totally premature.
Quite true.
I guess that no public official wants to appear indifferent to an emergency and to have a Katrina moment to live down.
The first thing you may save with an emergency order is your political arse!
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tennyson wrote:
And the declared health emergency will do just what other than get him press coverage ???
Probably some federal money.
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How are mosquitoes controlled in a state that is mostly swamp land?
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I bet for sure that the Florida tourism industry is not too happy with this declaration (similarly about the people calling for the cancellation of the summer Olympics) !
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Relating to Tennyson's observation about tourism, did anyone hear that the WHO has been advising people not to visit several Caribbean islands ................ Jamaica pops into my dome.
I correct myself, it was the CDC.
Jamaica joins the list of equatorial countries that have confirmed cases of Zika virus transmission - triggering its inclusion on a list of countries federal health(U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) officials say pregnant women shouldn't visit.The South Pacific archipelago of Tonga has been put on that list as well.The virus, which in most people causes only a mild illness lasting a few days, is now suspected of causing a birth defect that impacts the infant's brain. As a result, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says even women who are merely considering pregnancy should avoid travel to most of South and Central America, as well as most destinations in the Caribbean.
Last edited by Just Fred (2/04/2016 4:23 pm)